Both fighters have agreed to the summer matchup, sources close to the event told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). MMAFighting.com initially reported the fight.

UFC 149 takes place July 21 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo headlines against an opponent to be announced.

UFC 149’s main card airs on pay-per-view, and FX and Facebook are expected to carry the prelims. It’s not clear where Akiyama vs. Alves will end up on the lineup.

Akiyama looks to end a four-fight losing streak at the event. After a close split-decision win over Alan Belcher in his 2009 promotional debut, the Japanese star has suffered losses to top-level opponents Chris Leben, Michael Bisping, Vitor Belfort and Jake Shields. After a welterweight debut with the Shields’ loss, which came via shutout scores in his native Japan at UFC 144, Akiyama’s job appeared in jeopardy.

But he’ll get another shot at a second UFC win when he meets Alves, who was less than a minute away from topping Martin Kampmann in a UFC on FX 2 headliner this past month. Alves shot for a late takedown and ultimately tapped out to a guillotine choke. The American Top Team fighter earned a title shot with after a 9-1 run in the UFC, but he’s just 2-4 since then. The skid began with a title loss to champ Georges St-Pierre in 2009.

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is probably the greatest female fighter on the planet, which is a tremendous feat. So why are we seemingly so obsessed with arguing about whether she could beat up men?